There has been recent high level discussion about moving the Consular Processing functions of US Embassies and Consulates, under the authority of the State Department, to the Department of Homeland Security.

Since the birth of the USA, American Embassies and Consulates abroad have been tasked with adjudicating visa applications at their respective posts. However, recently officials in the US government have been discussing the notion of moving these functions from the State Department to the Department of Homeland Security.